Octopus is now all cell cast construction. Nice. It is about time. They are getting closer to justifying their costs. Not yet there, but getting there. I doubt their capacity claims, but almost, if not everyone, over cliams their capacities. I think the materials and workmanship in the MRC much, much better. I think the noise level and wattage advantage of the Octopus better. However I see the Octopus not worth a $100 more than a Turboflotor 1000, which it is comparable to. If the sale price was a standard price I could see a better value in the Octopus but for now, a sale undeliverable is not a sale, which makes it overpriced. For the prices involved I would buy two Coralifes 125's or 220's, or even two Turboflotor 1000. If it was a alleged 300 or 400 gallon Octopus at full price or the MRC cheap I would get the MRC. Now the regular non recirculating needle wheels I think are a good price, and now that they are cell cast I believe them a better buy than a Turboflotor or Coralife. I would definitely rather have two of them rather than the MRC or the Octopus recirculating needlewheels. Just my opinions though. No supporting data, to offer. The only experiences I have had with the above skimmers is the Turboflotors of which I own quite a few. I have had no problems with them, their pumps or their needle wheels. My only objections to them is their high price and partial use of extruded acrylic, where cell cast could have been used, and their directions are poorly written. Otherwise I have experience with some Becketts, not MRC in particular, and no personally know others with Coralifes.
